The first political entry was Undersheriff Andy Zinke driving a Sheriff’s Department vehicle. Note the sign with his name and title on the door.
Andy Zinke in the Lake in the Hills Parade.
Steve Harlfinger
I say “political” because I never saw him in a parade before he announced he was running for McHenry County Sheriff in 2014 with Sheriff Keith Nygren’s full endorsement.
Maybe I wrote too soon.
I see that a truck carrying Lake in the Hills officials came before Zinke.
Since they are elected officials, their photos certainly belong in this article.
In the cab was Village Trustee Steve Harlfinger.
I recognize him because he comes to Grafton Township Board meetings in support of the Township Trustees.
Other village officials and family members were in the back of the yellow truck. Please help me identify them.
Lake in the Hills Board Village Trustees are Ray Bogdanowski (festival shirt), Paul Mulcahy (glasses), are seen in the truck. Denise Barretos is out of camera range. Note the flying candy.
Trustee Bob Huckins is on the left. Paul Mulcahy is standing next to him?
And while he’s not a politician, Lake in the Hill’s first Police Chief Irv Floress (can you remember the early 1960′s?) and his wife Lois were the Parade’s Grand Marshalls.
Lois and Lake in the Hills first Police Chief Irv Floress. I got this wave when I yelled, “Hey, Irv!”
The last time I talked to Floress he was living in a lake community south of Rockford.
As you can see from the hands over the kids’ ears, the Northern Illinois Fire Museum engines had their sirens blaring.
There were a couple of fire engines from the Northern Illinois Fire Museum.
The message from the Lake in the Hills Historical Society was that its members and the community has saved the Ford School.
While it’s non-political the truck with the message that the Lake in the Hills Historical Society had saved Ford School had been saved was neat enough to merit a photo.
A group of supporters for State Senator Dan Duffy’s re-election was the first massive show of support for any candidate. Duffy is the one in the yellow working the crowd on the other side of the street.
The Dan Duffy for State Senate contingent came next.
State Senator Dan Duffy was shaking hands of crowd members.
Duffy’s volunteers were handing out plastic hands that, when shook, made a noise and looked as if they were clapping.
The novelty items that Dan Duffy was giving away can be seen here, not to mention a couple of Lake in the Hills’ parade volunteers.
I asked one volunteer to hold up what she was passing out.
Now for something completely different. Here’s Miss Lake in the Hills Smaantha Bolet, sp0nsored by Black Diamond.
One of the next entries was Miss Lake in the Hills in a Black Diamond convertible.
Kids were scrambling for candy.
Next came the Democrats.
Democratic Party District 5 McHenry County Board member Paula Yensen waves at the camera. Her husband, McHenry County Democratic Party Central Committee Chairman Mike Bissett. Debbie Chirikos rides shotgun.
And, as the sign on the side of the cars says, besides incumbent District 5 Democrat Paula Yensen, there was another County Board candidate, Nick Chirikos, who is running in District 1.
Nick Chirikos was walking with the Democratic Party convertible.
I turned around and found another Democrat. Looking at the photos, I note that the word “Democrat” does not appear on the signs.
Intermission time.
Students of a dance school showed their stuff at the Lake in the Hills Parade.
Next came a dance school whose name I didn’t catch, but it had high steppers, as you can see.
A violin school called “Four Strings Attached” played the Star Spangled Banner. People stood up.
Immediately thereafter was a group playing the Star Spangled Banner on violins. What a treat?
This was what the street looked like after the violin players.
I thought that was the end of the parade and got ready to leave.
The Donna Kurtz car stopped near where I was standing and children gathered near the driver’s side seeking candy.
It turns out the pokey entry belonged to District 2 McHenry County Board member Donna Kurtz. Gone was the husband-powered Kurtzmobile. A spiffy red car was the replacement.
Donna Kurtz was handing out candy and working the adults in the crowd.
Entertainment was provided by a band and singers from Living Waters Church.
Living Waters Lutheran Church on Miller Road in Crystal Lake was singing a contemporary Christian song we often sing at the First United Methodist Church in Crystal Lake at the 11 o’clock service.
Walking with them was a clown named Caasi.
Caasi tried to throw popcorn in kids’ mouths. He missed the time I watched. He wore a pin that said, “I’m the body of Christ. I’m a funny bone.”
A car and people handing out candy for State Rep. Mike Tryon were the next political entry.
State Rep. Mike Tryon apparently took the day off, but volunteers still handed out candy and made his name visible.
Close behind was a black pickup truck with signs for District 5 GOP County Board members John Jung and Tina Hill, plus District 1 County Board member Anna Miller.
District 1 County Board member Anna Miller waves. District 5 County Board member Tina Hill sat beside her.
Must be something about Lutherans, because right behind came another Lutheran Church entry.
Crosspoint Lutheran Church of Lakewood led with a banner, but had music, too.
This time it was Crosspoint Lutheran Church of Lakewood near Lou Malnati’s.
More coming.
